'Tis the season to be jolly  Fa la la la la, la la la la ♫♫♫

Something very silly then... and no one sillier than The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band.

They'd been extremely silly for some 4 years and 4 albums when in 1969 it all came unstuck and at a concert over Christmas they announced they were splitting up. In the general mayhem of their live shows no one present actually believed them. I know, because I was there !

There was a short 'farewell' tour in 1970 and the contractual obligation of one final LP in 1972. Otherwise the original line up of Vivian Stanshall, vocals, trumpet; Neil Innes, vocals, guitar, piano; Vernon Dudley Bohay-Nowell, guitar, banjo; Rodney Slater, saxophone, trumpet; Roger Ruskin Spear, saxophone, mechanical props; “Legs” Larry Smith, drums; & Sam Spoons, percussion: past into folklore, gone but never forgotten.

Here they are off the 'Gorilla' album, with their version of 'Jollity Farm' (a song from 1930 written by Leslie Sarony). Cartoon time with some faded footage of the band. 

Recognise the ending ?  Yes it's 'The Archers' theme tune.

For the record over the last four years the   FRIDAY MUSIC SPOT   has starred 200 tracks.

Beginning on 13th November 2015 with Funkadelic's 'Maggot Brain'.

The first 50 songs can be reviewed via this link. For 51-100 click here: 101-150 click this one and finally 151-200 are listed below.
Click on the blue arrow ➤ to replay that track. NB: Not all of the videos are still available, but you can search for an alternative, if you wish.

Welcome to:

151  ➤   At My Most Beautiful .…….….……….….....................… REM
152  ➤   Rockin' 1000 Summer Camp .……….…...…… Power Medley

153  ➤   A Head Full of Dreams .………………….….............… Coldplay

154  ➤   Good Times, Bad Times ..…..…................…. Led Zeppelin

155  ➤   Samovar .…..……....…...........................…… The Krew Kats

156  ➤   Overnight Sensation .…….….……….…...........… Raspberries
157  ➤   Who Wants to Live Forever .……….…...……...…..…… Queen

158  ➤   Come On, Let's Go .………………….….……......… Ritchie Valens

159  ➤   Lord of the Rings - Soundtrack ...........…. Howard Stone

160  ➤   High Hopes .…..……....…..........................…… Zero-Project

161  ➤   Waves .…….….……….…..............................… Mattia Cupelli
162  ➤   The Best Years of Our Lives .……….…....…… Neil Diamond

163  ➤   Last Time For Everything ….……...............… Brad Paisley

164  ➤   The Same Love That Made Me Laugh .....…. Robert Cray

165  ➤   Old Love .…..……....…..........…… Eric Clapton & Robert Cray

166  ➤   Driving Wheels .…….….……….…................… Jimmy Barnes
167  ➤   The One and Only .……….…...……...…..…… Chesney Hawkes

168  ➤   Made of Stone .………………...................… The Stone Roses

169  ➤   Blue Sky Mine ..…..….................................. Midnight Oil

170  ➤   Time Waits For No One .....................…… Rolling Stones

171  ➤   Always With Me, Always With You .…….….… Joe Satriani
172  ➤   Electric .……….…...……...……….…....................… Madrugada

173  ➤   Cowboy Take Me Away .….......................… Dixie Chicks

174  ➤   Sing, Sing, Sing (with a Swing) .. Benny Goodman Band

175  ➤   The Void .…..……....…........................................…… Muse

176  ➤   Up The Junction .…….….……….…......................… Squeeze
177  ➤   Wasn't Born To Follow .……….........…...…….…… The Byrds

178  ➤   From The Beginning ...............… Emerson Lake & Palmer

179  ➤   Scatterlings of Africa..….......................…. Johnny Clegg

180  ➤   Cold Little Heart ..........................…… Michael Kiwanuka

181  ➤   Youth .…….….……….....................................…....… Feeder
182  ➤   See Me Feel Me .……….….............……...……….……  The Who

183  ➤   You Need Love .…………..……............................… JD Simo

184  ➤   Good Times ..…..….............................................…. Chic

185  ➤   Who By Fire …...................................…… Leonard Cohen

186  ➤   It Ain't Me .……….…..........… Creedence Clearwater Revival
187  ➤   Living In The Past .…......….…..........……….……. Jethro Tull

188  ➤   Fireworks .………………….........….......................… Embrace

189  ➤   Still Fighting ..…..…....................................…. Ben Folds

190  ➤   What Makes You Think You're The One. Fleetwood Mac

191  ➤   Duke's Travels/End .…….….…….....….…............… Genesis
192  ➤   Friday I'm in Love .……….…...........……...…….…… The Cure

193  ➤   Adam's Song .………………….….…......................… Blink 182

194  ➤   Sweet Home Alabama ..….................…. Lynyrd Skynyrd

195  ➤   November Rain .…..……......................…… Guns N' Roses

196  ➤   No More Lonely Nights .……..……….…....… Paul McCartney
197  ➤   Run Like Hell .……….…...….......…...……….…… Dave Gilmour

198  ➤   River.………………….….……............................… Joni Mitchell

199  ➤   Wuthering Heights ..…....….......................…. Kate Bush

200  ➤   Celluloid Heroes ..........................................….… Kinks

A long time ago, in a galaxy not so
far away.... 
The Friday Music Spot was launched and today is the 200th track - and it's one full of Stars. 
This has long been one of my favourite tracks by one of my all time bands. I only recently discovered this song had evolved over the 70s into this 'live' version. The original release from 1972 now has a great guitar intro from the much underrated Dave Davies before brother Ray takes us for a walk down Hollywood Boulevard - this version appeared on the 'One For The Road' album in 1980.

"Everybody's a Star" on 'Celluloid Heroes' by the Kinks.

> A full run down of the FMS 200 coming soon.

All you students, academics and would be mathematicians out there will have calculated that THE FRIDAY MUSIC SPOT is fast approaching track number 200. Hands up if you knew that ?
Today is actually No.199.

When I started out, the intention was not to repeat myself, but some artists have appeared more than once: AC/DC, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Joe Bonamassa, The Byrds, Rod Stewart and Pink Floyd. (hmm, more than I thought)! While others have inevitably turned up a few times in different shapes and forms: Mark Knopfler, Roger McGuinn, Johnny Cash, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Steve Howe, Neil Young and Eric Clapton.
Here are some of my favourite artists we have yet to featured (probably because picking just ONE track has proved beyond me): Jackson Browne (though he was on Gregg Allman & Friends), Tom Waits, John Martyn, Oasis, Kinks (Ray Davies we have had), Red Hot Chilli Peppers and The Doors. One of them will be No.200. I've just not yet quite decided who….

Before that today's track is .....

Based on Emily Bronte's classic book of the same name, it's Kate Bush and 'Wuthering Heights'. However the familiar single version was only 3.30 minutes long and it misses off the one minute guitar solo by Scottish musician Ian Bairnson that plays it out on the album track. I was unaware of this version for ages. Here it is along with a great video 'mash-up' of different performances down the years. Here's waving at yer...

A 1978 hit and No.1 for 4 weeks in the UK, it was also No.1 in Australia, Ireland, Italy & New Zealand plus a Top 10 entry in many other European countries, but I can find no record of any chart success in America. So this may come as something entirely new to listeners across the Atlantic. 

An alternative (and occasional) music posting highlighting something out of the ordinary. Perhaps of limited appeal, unconventional, experimental or just far-out ! Call it what you like (or switch it off, if you don't like). 

This could be made for the 'Midweek Music Spot' :(i.e. like it or switch it off, if you don't). I confess I heard this on 'Strictly Come Dancing' when Chris Ramsey and Karen Hauer danced their 'Paso Doble' on week 10. (see this link).
That said it reminded me of 'Thunderstorm' from 'Riverdance' (here) OR if you prefer this opening to the finale (here too). 
Music Spotlight is on 'Run Boy Run' by Woodkid - aka French musician Yoann Lemoine. 

Time for something completely different...
I like to think that the FMS provides a welcome break from the endless round of Christmas hits that get played every year around this time. This then is the nearest we are going to get to a Christmas song. Which it isn't really, but as it samples 'jingle bells' and mentions Christmas the timing is at least correct and the video images appropriate. 
From the 1971 LP 'Blue' Joni Mitchell sings 'River'.
There are many covers versions but none come close to the original. This is real stardust...

The answer was, you knew it, Dave Gilmour. That distinct Pink Floyd guitar sound.
Now I can here you all shouting 'but we've had Pink Floyd twice before on the FMS', and you'd be right. But as tomorrow marks the 40th anniversary of the release of 'The Wall' I couldn't pass on the opportunity to feature this. And as it is solo Dave Gilmour, so strictly speaking not Pink Floyd, though the track is of course, from 'The Wall'.
In October 1971 Floyd performed 'Iive' in the ancient roman amphitheatre at Pompeii. Returning there in 2016 for a very different experience 'Live at Pompeii' was a cinema release, tv programme, CD, LP, DVD and download. Track is: 'Run Like Hell' 
WARNING: Lots of flashing strobe lights (you'll need your Dave Gilmour type dark glasses ON) - especially if you go for the full screen option and it's a blinding ending with fireworks.

The recent death of Terry O'Neill, the photographer of so many film, pop and rock 'n' roll stars, provides an unexpected intro to this week's music spot. Check out a gallery of stars on this link to a Guardian newspaper article from last Sunday. Capturing a past, in images that live forever:

January 1963 - O’Neill later recalled: “I was asked to go down to Abbey Road Studios and take a few portraits of this new band. I didn’t know how to work with a group, but because I was a musician myself and the youngest on staff by a decade, I was always the one they’d ask. I took the four young lads outside for better light. That portrait ran in the papers the next day and the paper sold out. That band became the biggest band in the world, the Beatles” 

You may subsequently and undoubtedly have heard of this (now not so young) lad, on a track from 1984 and on the soundtrack to his film 'Give My Regards To Broad Street' this is 'No More Lonely Nights' by Paul McCartney.

Lots of beautiful scenic images in this video, plus the lyrics. But who is playing those guitar solos ?

The answer will be revealed next week if you don't recognise the distinctive style and sound. No peeking (or googling), now...

Ever noticed how many great songs there are with 'Rain' in the title. I have a list that has tracks by Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Creedence, Counting Crows & Buddy Holly just for starters. And one of the very best is 'November Rain' by Guns N' Roses.
With some wonderful guitar by Slash (Mr Saul Hudson) the track was released in 1992 as a single, having appeared on the previous year's LP 'Use Your Illusion'. According to various stories 'November Rain' had been in the making for some 8 years. 
Here it's pouring down again. 

If you thought this video was mad or just plain silly, then so did this guy: Link to Funny or Die.

Did you guess correct ?
Yep it's Lynyrd Skynyrd 'Sweet Home Alabama' on this 1974 black & white promo video, with the original line up and three lead guitarists. Ed King take the solo on this one.

I also found this new 2015 'live in their home town' video (they've still got it) - but what with hair extensions and the passing of years I'm not sure how many originals remain. Gary Rossington is there I think. >>> www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0njSOZ5M3w

–   T O P   2 0   G U I T A R   I N T R O S  –

Rick Beato (musician, teacher, writer/producer with various bands in the rock and country genres) walks and picks his way through his selection of Top 20 Electric Guitar Intros. Fascinating stuff at 15 minutes long. He even adds in 11 extras, just to show how difficult he found it to keep it to a Top 20.

>>> Now which one of his Top 20 have I selected for this week's Star Track ? Can you guess, you've a 20-1 chance... Answer coming up this Friday. 

A short smug story …
The other week at our local pub quiz, as normal, there was a music round.
The link for all the 10 songs in this round was that the song's title doesn't appear in the song's lyrics. One point awarded for the artist and one for the song title. 
The first three tracks played our team recognised, though we got the name of the Led Zeppelin track wrong. The next two were a complete mystery, even when they read the answers out later. The remaining 5 songs played included a song I recognised as being Blink 182. 'One of the kid's songs' I said when all our team looked at me in surprise. And then out of nowhere came the title 'Adam's Song'. At the time I thought 'where did that come from…' ➤  –  but it felt right. And it was ! 2 more points for our team. 
➤ It came from me selecting tracks I liked, off my kids playlists, that I then compiled on to various CDs, I called 'Bill's Kids'. And on BK3 there are, amongst Green Day, Sum 41, Foo Fighters & Creed, to name just four, three tracks by Blink 182 and right there is 'Adam's Song'.
Thank goodness for our subconscious….

> An unusually dark song off the album 'Enema of the State' considered one of the Greatest Pop Punk Albums Ever, check out the amusing and iconic record cover. 

Here's a song I've always loved: The Cure 'Friday I'm In Love', but what kind of love is this? Cure songs are never as simple as they seem and I've never been quite sure, plus there's so many interpretations of it's meaning on the internet, it's whatever you want it to be. 
One thing is for sure it's an upbeat song while this official video won the 'Best Music Video (European Viewers Choice)' at the 1992 MTV Awards. Love those chiming guitars > it's Friday...

"Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin"
Once upon a time in a land of make believe when the guitar players sat down, the drummer sang backing vocals and the lead singer told fanciful stories, this was the beginning of Genesis, and a revelation.
I discovered the band rather by chance and have numerous tales I could tell (but not for here, though if you'd like me to bore you rigid anytime, I'd happily oblige).
This is more about a recent PROG magazine poll taken by 40,000 readers to vote for their favourite Genesis songs. The magazine then compiled a Top 40 list.
Having discovered the band in 1971, with the 'Nursery Cryme' LP, I bought their earlier album 'Trespass' and all their subsequent releases up to the 1977 "...and then there were three". While Peter Gabriel leaving the band was less of a problem, this slightly disappointing album suffered due to the departure of guitarist Steve Hackett. I didn't buy any Genesis LPs after this ! So I was especially interesting to hear tracks in this Top 40 selected from 'Duke' in 1980 and beyond.
Now I know I try not to repeat a band or artist on the FMS and students out there will have spotted that this has not been set in stone. Pink Floyd, Joe Bonamassa, Rod Stewart have all appeared more than once and though we have had a Genesis track: 'Firth of Fifth' - this was in fact the Steve Hackett Band while Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel were solo releases. (links highlighted) we haven't actually had Genesis on ! Clever reasoning right?
In reviewing those later songs I found this excellent Special Edit travelogue video spanning the years to 2007: A scary looking Phil Collins and sticking with the drum theme of the last few weeks, some brilliant duel drumming from Phil and Chester Thompson.
Take it away Genesis - 'Duke's Travels/End 'live'.

"Alexa: play Fleetwood Mac"... and this never comes up ? (I only heard it for the first time earlier this year). Despite it appearing in the 'Rolling Stone' 50 Best Fleetwood Mac tracks and is on a 2009 release 'The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac' CD.
"What Makes You Think You're the One" is a Lindsey Buckingham song from the 'Tusk' LP released on 12th October 1979.
This is the best sound version on YouTube (no video, I'm afraid) so you can clearly hear Mick Fleetwood killing it on the drums

>>> From one 1960s drummer to another. Scroll down or click link for a tribute to Ginger Baker.

–   A    T  R  I  B  U  T  E   –

to Ginger Baker who sadly died last Sunday, 6th October 

"Peter Edward 'Ginger' Baker was a paradox: a gamechanging rock drummer who insisted that he “never played rock,” a forefather of heavy metal who couldn't stand the genre, and a Londoner who thoroughly assimilated African drumming styles."

I couldn't really find a video that showed that much of the drumming of Ginger Baker, so here's a bio with whole lot you may not know about him... (and some great old black and white footage).

⏯ Video is for the 2007 Zildjan Drummers Achievement Awards when Ginger Baker received a lifetime award.

I first heard this a few months ago and ear marked it for around this time.
This is Ben Folds singing 'Still Fighting'. When you see the video and hear the lyrics 'Good Morning Son' 'You're so much like me' 'And one day you'll fly away from me' - you will know why I selected it now, the day before my son's 29th birthday.
One person's experience is never exactly the same as yours, but this rings enough bells. A personal Star Track Spot this week...

An early contestant for 'Bargain Buy of the Year', I recently picked up the debut album by Yorkshire's alternative rock band Embrace at 'Poundland' in Maidenhead, for the stupid price of only £1.
'The Good Will Out' was released in 1998 and is full of great songs. This one in particular, was the second track released as a single and the first to reach the charts.
'Fireworks' performed live on Jools Holland.

Follow the thread on YouTube (.... Best album ever etc. etc.) - all for a Pound !!!
If you like? Then check out these other tracks off the album: 
> 'That's All Changed Forever'
> 'Come Back To What You Know'
> 'Higher Sights'
> 'Retread'
> 'Now You're Nobody'

Always happy to play any requests from listeners, here's one I recently received that takes us back once again to the year 1969. 
Not inappropriately titled 'Living In The Past' - Jethro Tull* had a UK No.3 single in late June of that year. Later released on a hits compilation in 1972 it became the band's their first top 20 hit in the US.

*Google Jethro Tull and you get the band. You need to search far harder for the English agriculturist and inventor of the seed drill, part of the Industrial Agricultural Revolution in 1700. And part of my 1969 GCE History revision. 😊 

I've read, twice is a coincidence while a third time is a pattern (a sign) if you like.
Having mentioned Creedence Clearwater Revival at the end of the Woodstock blog (August 16), saying that their performance was never a part of the LPs or Film soundtracks released, than I read their hour long set from the festival was to be finally made available on vinyl and CD. (click here)
Then I'm watching the movie 'Die Hard 4' and on comes 'Fortunate Son' > resistance is futile, Creedence Clearwater Revival - 'It ain't me' - hit it...

A rather short track this week, deserves another I think. 'Fortunate Son' was not part of the band's Woodstock performance, this track was: 'Proud Mary'. 'Live' show around the same time in 1969. 


⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯
ERRATUM (setting the record straight)
Seems my use of the expression 'lungs of the planet' in last weeks Music Spot was an incorrect metaphor. Along with, according to this National Geographic article (click link), the % figures, widely quoted in the news, regarding oxygen and its production are equally in need of correction. 
⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯ ⏯

In contrast to last week's upbeat "Good Times" here's the flip side, as it were.
With the rebel alliance becoming a force, power struggle disruptions and world leaders dividing love and hate as the lungs of the planet are burning. It begins to sound like a blockbuster disaster movie. Unfortunately it's all to real ! 
So how about a soundtrack by Leonard Cohen ? Singing 'Who By Fire' from his album 'New Skin for the Old Ceremony' performed live in London. Very interesting song...  luckily it's not all gloom - the 12-string guitar is wonderful as is some memorable organ and pulsing double bass at the end.

Going to keep it simple this week. Summer has made a more than welcome return - 'leave your cares behind' - 'Good Times' written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards and performed by Chic live in Amsterdam in 2004.
Bernard Edwards: The DIVINE BASS line (as someone has called it) played here by Jerry Barnes, I believe, and Sylver Logan Sharp on lead vocals. Shake it !

All this looking back 50 years ago and memories of 1969. Here's a track that sounds like it's 50 years old but is a new recording.
JD Simo lives in Nashville but hails from Chicago. From his first solo album 'Off at 11', this track is called 'You Need Love' - complete with false ending and b/w video (who do you think it reminds you of....?)

This is the single version, here's the longer album take > www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRvNJ76lw_M